When you ignore all of that though, and look at Fable as the hack-and-slash RPG that it is rather than the fantasy life simulator it was pitched as, it’s always been a somewhat underrated series with great ideas practically oozing from its pores. Successful? Often not, but if a sequel promises anything, it’s another crack at what could have been great. What does Fable 4 have to draw on? Plenty…

Share this:

Sad news, mostly because a studio with some serious heritage looks set to be closed down, but partly because said studio never had a chance to set out its own identity following the departure of founder Peter Molyneux. Lionhead was what the co-creator of Populous, Theme Park, Syndicate and Dungeon Keeper did after Bullfrog (with the help of dozens of talented colleagues), and while it was always a divisive studio the ambition and exuberance it showed in the Black & White and Fable games will be sorely missed.

Microsoft today announced the studio’s next (and first post-Molyneux) title, Fable Legends, has been cancelled, and that it is “in discussions with employees about the proposed closure of Lionhead Studios in the UK.”Read the rest of this entry »

Share this:

Since the dawn of RPGs, two things have remained constant: heroes require armour, and players will always want to find out what happens if they strip it all off and run around. Some would call it a secret test of a game’s devotion to world simulation – that if characters react, it says good things about the developers’ devotion to detail. Others just think it’s really funny. (To be clear, it’s very rarely even close to sexy.)

This week then, a random sample will answer the question the world has been waiting to realise it should have asked – objectively speaking, which RPG is the best? Specifically, if they all forgot their PE kits and had to go quest in their pants.

Share this:

Starting to write this post about Lionhead announcing mod tools for Fable Anniversary, I went to check the release date and price (you know, standard news post details), only to discover that crumbs! It’s out today! That snuck up quietly, didn’t it? Well there you go: Lionhead’s fancied-up remake of ye olde Fable from a decade ago is out later today, and will have mod tools to mess with and replace art assets. That’s the limit of their potential, but it’s presumably enough to e.g. turn the final boss into Peter Molyneux dancing around wearing a dinosur onesie.

Share this:

Did you know there was tremendous demand for a PC version of Fable Anniversary? Did you know there was a Fable Anniversary? I must confess that I did not. Apparently, though, it’s a remastered version of Fable: The Firstening with better graphics, sound, and all that jazz (note: jazz not included). It came to Xbox 360 earlier this year, and now it’s apparently headed to Steam too. Hurrah?